Port Washington Youth Activities (PYA) is pleased to announce the induction of three new members into the PYA Hall of Fame at its annual Gala on Friday, April 12, at the North Hempstead Country Club in Port Washington.
The 32nd edition of the PYA Gala will honor Amy Nash for her long-time volunteer efforts, and former PYA athletes Jennifer and Tim Langton, sister and brother (the first time in its history that two siblings will be inducted at the same time). These three individuals, each in their own way, have helped to continue to shape and grow the organization, which was founded in 1963.
Amy Nash has been a PYA board member for over seven years and quickly dove into leadership positions. Amy served as the PYA Vice President for four years, and has chaired the Hall of Fame Gala, Nominating, COVID Response, Softball Bash and Hoopfest committees. She is primarily known for her coaching, development, and growth of the Legends baseball travel program. From an administrative standpoint, she helped organize the multi-sport winter workout programs, developed PYA’s parental code of conduct, and provided recommendations for the Safety and Field committees. To add to her community service résumé, she served on the Daly Elementary School Home/School Association Executive Board, as Weber Middle School Outreach Chair, and the Schreiber High School Vikings Baseball Booster Club.
Jennifer Langton started her PYA athletic involvement as a lacrosse player in 1985, albeit with the boys program as there was not a girls program at that time. She also played in the PYA girls basketball program for four years. Her athletic accomplishment took off quickly as she entered Schreiber High School amassing a total of 12 varsity letters in Soccer (three years), Cross Country (one year), Basketball (four years) and Lacrosse (four years). Jennifer was named All-County in lacrosse all four of those varsity years and was a four-time high school All-American and a member of the USA National Team as well. She captained the lacrosse, basketball, and cross-country teams as a senior and was inducted into the Schreiber Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. Moving on to the University of Virginia, she was named ACC Rookie of the Year for lacrosse. As a senior at UVA, she received the Betty and Money Yates Award in recognition of her leadership, service, and dedication to the women’s lacrosse program.
Tim Langton stands out as a former PYA athlete as well. During the 1980s, he played both PYA football and lacrosse. Tim followed up both sports at Schreiber High School, with two years of varsity football, three years of varsity lacrosse (All-County as a junior and senior, playing on the 1990 county championship team as a sophomore, the county semifinals as a junior, and the finals as a senior in 1992), and two years on the varsity cross-country team. He went on to Towson State University in Baltimore, playing four years of varsity lacrosse, earning First Team All-American honors as a senior in 1996, which followed his winning the Towson/Joseph Ferrante Scholarship award as the outstanding junior on the team. He appeared in two NCAA tournaments while at Towson. Post-college, he was the number one overall draft pick of the National Lacrosse League, chosen by the NY Saints professional indoor team in 1996. Tim also played on the NYAC Club Championship team in 1999. He was inducted into Towson’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. In addition, he has given his time to PYA as a volunteer coach in its flag football program.
On the night of Friday, April 12, these new inductees will join 79 other Hall of Fame members as past PYA honorees. The Gala will kick off with a cocktail hour at 7:30 p.m., and a buffet dinner from 8:45 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. There will be a silent auction, and a liquor ring toss too. The price is $185.00 per person (including open bar) in advance and is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. There are also several sponsorships available to fit all budgets. Please mark your calendars now and direct any inquiries to 516-944-7921 or [email protected]. You can also visit the PYA website link at www.pyasports.org/gala for more information about the celebration, and to register to attend the event.
About the PYA
Port Washington Youth Activities (PYA) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization formed to promote the exemplary development of local youth through participation in sports. PYA teaches teamwork and individual responsibility in an atmosphere of respect and sportsmanship. While PYA places emphasis on the development of sports skills, its primary mission is to develop character and an understanding of how participation in sporting events can prepare one for success in all endeavors.
—Submitted by the PYA
